Summary
- Act 2 of Baldur's Gate 3 focuses on the dark works of Ketheric Thorm and his looming threat in the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
- Ketheric Thorm can be found in Moonrise Towers, where careful sneaking and perception can unveil a shocking revelation hidden under a loose floorboard.
- Baldur's Gate 3 rewards curiosity with secrets and foreshadowing throughout the game, with hidden writings and discoveries that build anticipation and add depth to the story.
The dark works of Ketheric Thorm are a big focus in Act 2 of Baldur's Gate 3, but one huge revelation that comes at the end of the act can actually be discovered ahead of time. Act 2 takes the Baldur's Gate 3 party from the area surrounding the nautiloid's crash into the Shadow-Cursed Lands, where an oppressive darkness can wreak havoc on anyone who isn't protected by the light of the goddess Selune. Although solace can be found at the Last Light Inn, the looming threat of Ketheric Thorm makes any protection terrifyingly fragile.
Ketheric Thorm can be found in Moonrise Towers, a location that many events and hints throughout the first and second acts of Baldur's Gate 3 all point to as a critical nexus. Although the tower features extensive defenses and houses a veritable army, it's possible to infiltrate it initially thanks to the tadpole infecting the head of Baldur's Gate 3 party . Once inside, a bit of careful sneaking and the right perception roll makes it possible to discover a major reveal, although the way that the secret is hidden might not be at all what an adventurer would expect.
[Warning: This article has spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3.]
A Loose Floorboard Holds The Secret Of The Absolute In BG3
The identity and nature of the Absolute are a huge mystery at the center of the first two acts of Baldur's Gate 3, but the answer to this ever-present question can be found underneath a loose floorboard. Ketheric's room is a strictly off-limits area, but watchful NPCs and locked doors in Baldur's Gate 3 certainly aren't impenetrable obstacles. Sneaking or fighting one's way into his personal chambers and succeeding a perception check will reveal a loose floorboard next to his bed, beneath which is a tome called Elder Brain Domination that holds shocking revelations.
Reading past the "Confidential" notice at the top of the page brings a revelation that is confidential indeed, referring to a "plan to enslave an illithid elder brain" that sounds devious even without context. The letter later refers to the brain as the Absolute, tipping Ketheric's hand in a rather inglorious way to answer the mystery of the Absolute's identity. Although the events that come at the end of Act 2 can still bring other shocks beyond this core twist, discovering Ketheric's writings is a surprising and somewhat humorous way to get to the heart of his schemes.
Ketheric leaving such earth-shattering information in a fairly routine hiding spot is a great way to build his characterization in Baldur's Gate 3, pointing to the almost lazy overconfidence of a man who thinks himself immortal. This read of his personality is confirmed by meeting Ketheric face to face and seeing him interact with others involved in the scheme. The decision to jot down the nature of the Absolute is far from his most egregious error, as leaving the party alive while he still holds the key to immortality is the central mistake that brings about his undoing, but it is a nice touch that hints at his flaws.
Moonrise Towers Has More Secrets In Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 consistently rewards curiosity, and Moonrise Towers is no exception. Although Ketheric's loose floorboard holds the biggest Baldur's Gate 3 Act 2 secret, there are plenty of other discoveries to make while exploring his stronghold. The chambers of Ketheric's assistant, Balthazar, are one such example of this, as he also hides private affairs behind one of the oldest tricks in the book. In this case, that trick is using sliding bookcases to cover up a secret room, a somewhat grander affair than Ketheric's own technique.
The means of activating Balthazar's bookcase is where his hiding spot becomes truly unique, as a human heart must be offered to a spiked altar for the way to open. Once inside, the party can find the full extent of his depravity, as well as some interesting finds. Writing regarding the Nightsong and the secret of Ketheric Thorm's immortality and a couple of useful items are solid discoveries, and having Gale in the party will lead to a unique interaction where he struggles with the decision to make use of an unusual ritual circle that Balthazar has inscribed or destroy it as Mystra would wish.
Foreshadowing Is A Big Part Of Baldur's Gate 3
Although secrets as big as the identity of the Absolute aren't generally thrown around haphazardly in Baldur's Gate 3, snooping around the corners of its world and reading up on books, notes, and letters does provide plenty in the way of early hints at story beats. Reading material has a wide variety of applications, from characterizing certain NPCs to fleshing out the world of the Forgotten Realms to simply existing as an amusement, helping inquisitive players put together overarching narratives.
Multiple writings regarding the Absolute and the Nightsong within Moonrise itself point to this overall trend in Baldur's Gate 3, but it starts much closer to the beginning of the game. Some books that can be discovered early on point to the hidden nature of party or establish aspects of the Forgotten Realms pantheon that quickly come to the forefront of the story. Others simply serve to characterize areas like Grymforge or the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Books and conversations also drop hints about the culture and state of Baldur's Gate throughout, building anticipation for the eventual arrival in the city.
The discovery of Ketheric Thorm's book is just one of a variety of hints and secrets hidden in surprising places in Baldur's Gate 3, but its implications are on a titanic level that no others match. Discovering everything his room has to offer can even affect the showdown with Ketheric Thorm, offering an extra possibility for a check that can avoid some of the combat. Although many parties might not find Ketheric's floorboard before coming face to face with the villain in Baldur's Gate 3, those that do are certainly in for a major surprise.
